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The Broom of the System
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
Published when Wallace was just twenty-four years old, The Broom of the System stunned critics and marked the emergence of an extraordinary new talent. At the center of this outlandishly funny, fiercely intelligent novel is the bewitching heroine, Lenore Stonecipher Beadsman. The year is 1990 and the place is a slightly altered Cleveland, Ohio. Lenores great-grandmother has disappeared with twenty-five other inmates of the Shaker Heights Nursing Home. Her beau, and boss, Rick Vigorous, is insanely jealous, and her cockatiel, Vlad the Impaler, has suddenly started spouting a mixture of psycho-babble, Auden, and the King James Bible. Ingenious and entertaining, this debut from one of the most innovative writers of his generation brilliantly explores the paradoxes of language, storytelling, and reality.
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JLaurenceCohen
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace

DFW's debut novel is equal parts witty, sardonic, and fantastical. It includes some unforgettable passages, such as an explanation of "second order vanity." Lenore struggles to find identity, belonging, and her missing grandmother. Oh, and much of Ohio is a desert.

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judgingbooksbycovers
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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I finished with 26 hours! Woo hoo!! #24in48

DebinHawaii Congratulations! Nice job! 🎉📚🎉👍 7y
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charl08
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Gorgeous old library at Surgeons Hall. I'm not going to meet my #24in48 but having fun following others do so here.

Moray_Reads I used to spend a lot of time here, I miss it! 7y
charl08 @Moray_Reads it's a lovely place. 7y
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charl08
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Couldn't resist these...

BarbaraBB I have had the Wallace for years on my shelves. I am still waiting for the courage to start it! 7y
ReadingEnvy That is the most accessible DFW, in my opinion. It's funny! And amazing to realize he wrote that as his masters thesis. 7y
BarbaraBB @ReadingEnvy Really? That does give me a bit of courage! 7y
ReadingEnvy @BarbaraBB yeah! Give it a try! 7y
charl08 @ReadingEnvy @BarbaraBB sounds good, this is a lovely edition I couldn't resist. 7y
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WanderingBookaneer
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Next audiobook

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mauveandrosysky
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Some light (j/k) Sunday reading for anyone interested. This article had my head swimming in the best way. Understanding DFW is one of the most fulfilling pursuits of my life. This focuses primarily on The Broom of the System (his work closest linked to Wittgenstein) but #infinitejestbuddyread participants may find it interesting too. (Mild spoilers within.) http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2010/12/philosophical_sweep.html

LeahBergen Thank you. 😀 8y
Ericmanciniwriter You're the best person I know to answer this question: is it worth it to read Pale King? 8y
mauveandrosysky @Eamann that's actually his one full-length novel that I haven't read yet. It's sitting on my shelf currently. I struggle with wanting to devour all his work consecutively vs. pacing myself so I don't run out. I sort of subconsciously do the latter with my favorite writers. 8y
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reneelyons Thanks for sharing this, I'm finding myself becoming completely fascinated by this man. Have you heard the interview with his sister? So heartbreaking. 8y
britt_brooke Interesting article - thank you! 8y
8little_paws Oh man. I read this book a few weeks ago and I found it a total slog. But now I want to check out this article! 8y
mauveandrosysky @reneelyons I haven't yet! But now I'm going to look it up. He truly is one of the most fascinating people I've ever come across. I'll never be able to get enough of him. 8y
JenP I'm going to bookmark to read after I'm done with Infinite Jest. Thanks! 8y
Ericmanciniwriter When you decide to crack open Pale King let me know and I'll virtual book club it with you 8y
mauveandrosysky @Eamann yay! That sounds great. I'll let ya know. 8y
reneelyons @mauveandrosysky Definitely take a listen (there's an audio recording out there) - it was really interesting to learn a bit about him from someone so close to him. 8y
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8little_paws
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Here's two of my current reads, plus The Fifth Season on my Kindle and Invisible Man on audio. #riotgrams

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Tcip
Broom of the System | David Foster Wallace
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My latest #bookhaul with the family. We are way into the name Dave apparently. #dave

LauraBeth 😂😂 8y
vivastory Immediately thought of Kids in the Hall song "These are the Daves I know" when I saw your post 8y
Tcip @vivastory if I knew any of these daves I would be a much cooler person than I currently am. 8y
reneelyons Hahahaha yes! @vivastory 8y
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review
mauveandrosysky
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Pickpick

This book is a complete treasure for fans of DFW. He wrote it as an undergrad, and it's a delight to see the beginnings of what he would become as a novelist.

It's clever, absurd, stimulating and hilarious. DFW makes you work for what you‘re reading. He challenges you to remember all of his characters and the clever little details that he plants along the way. But the brilliant thing is that it doesn‘t actually feel like work.

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smccallum
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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It's been very hectic this month and it felt like I had read more than this but I'm not overly disappointed because whilst I have selected these two as picks it could very easily have been almost any of the titles I read this month. It's been a great month material wise! #photoadaynov16 #bestofnovember

Cinfhen Great month 🤓 8y
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mauveandrosysky
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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CoffeeBooksRepeat I love this! 8y
reneelyons Damn. Where do I begin with DFW? I have Infinite Jest sitting there staring at me - is it the best place to begin? 8y
mauveandrosysky @reneelyons ha, someone else just asked me this yesterday! 😀 I love all the DFW interest! I actually recommend starting with one of his non-fiction essay collections: A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again or Consider the Lobster. Great intros into his writing style/voice/sense of humor without being too overwhelming. It's good to work up to Infinite Jest. 8y
reneelyons Thanks for your thoughts! I'll check them out :) 8y
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mauveandrosysky
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace

This book is a hug to my soul right now. It‘s not even that it‘s affecting me in any sort of deep emotional way. It‘s just that DFW has this way with words and with storytelling that is so damn endearing. I love him. I miss him.

TrishB We could all do with some hugs to our soul 😀 8y
BooksForEmpathy I have never read him 😕. Where should I even start?? 8y
mauveandrosysky @BooksForEmpathy !!!! I recommend starting with his non-fiction essay collections: A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again or Consider the Lobster. These are good intros into his style/thought process/sense of humor, and not overwhelming. Also, check out his commencement speech called This Is Water. You can find it online and read it in like 20 minutes. It's amazing. That was actually my intro to DFW. 😊 8y
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mauveandrosysky
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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This is what most of my evenings look like.

erinreads Cute kitty and a good book! 👌🏻 8y
MrBook 😻😻😻😻 8y
BookBabe 😻😻😻😁😁😁😂😂😂 8y
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mauveandrosysky @MrBook Oh. My. God. That's hilarious 😹 8y
LeahBergen That expression! 😂😂 8y
BookishMarginalia Lol! 😻 8y
DreesReads Beastie! 8y
slhbooks Gotta love 'em😻😻😻 8y
57 likes9 comments
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mauveandrosysky
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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My one Black Friday purchase because we happened to be near the independent bookstore in Harvard Square and I couldn't resist going inside and I came across this special edition copy of a David Foster Wallace book that I haven't read yet and I feel like I'm really going to need some David Foster Wallace in my life as I attempt to endure the horrible reality of living in America right now.

LeahBergen AND these editions are amazing (more justifying 😉) 8y
mauveandrosysky @LeahBergen I like the way you think! 8y
shawnmooney Actually, this is the only DFW I have read so far, and I loved it! 8y
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mauveandrosysky @shawnmooney yay, that's great to hear! I can't wait to read it. 8y
Tcip It's on my list for sure. Of course @mauveandrosysky you know of my love for DFW so all of his works are on my TBR at this point. 8y
Ericmanciniwriter I reread Oblivion recently and wow - very bleak. Not at all like IJ 8y
mauveandrosysky @Eamann I know, it's kinda depressing to think about that one in comparison to IJ. Now I want to re-read it too, because I haven't read it in years (and that was before I read IJ). 8y
mauveandrosysky @Tcip same! I'm slowly working my way through all of them and sort of purposely taking my time. 8y
manifestsanity Donald Trump is President Johnny Gentle. 8y
Velvetsun @manifestsanity I am currently reading IJ and was just thinking the same thing. It‘s scary to see the similarities. 6y
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review
smccallum
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Pickpick

Had so much fun with this! You can see the roots of Infinite Jest and it also called to mind Murakami's 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' but it is definitely its own thing. I know some people don't like DFW but if you're curious this was clever, touching and endlessly funny. Vlad The Impaler is the best fictional bird I have come across

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smccallum
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Today's plan is to finish these!

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smccallum
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Having A LOT of fun with this book. Its quirkiness is the perfect pick me up after some script cuts and research!

shawnmooney It's the only DFW novel I've read so far: loved it! 8y
smccallum @shawnmooney it's so much fun! I've read a lot of him and this, Pale King and Signifying Rap is pretty much all that's left so I'm trying to savour it! 8y
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smccallum
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Today's bookish plans! Green Grow The Lilacs is homework and then some fiction and non-fiction. Loving The Broom Of The System so far!

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chowmeyow
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Saw the new Penguin Orange Classics in person yesterday - they are stunning. // at PowerHouse Books in DUMBO.

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queenofthecouch
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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I'm a sucker for an artsy cover.

BookishFeminist All of the Penguin Ink editions are gorgeous 8y
JPeterson There needs to be a way to but just prints of cover art to hang on the walls. (Is there, and I'm just completely unaware). 8y
OffTheBeatenShelf.com That is a gorgeous cover! 8y
MrBook Nice cover! 8y
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bag
The Broom of the System: A Novel | David Foster Wallace
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Seems like an appropriate pencil to use while reading this one.

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